Harness-saddle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DAVID BRAUN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 413,165, dated October 22, 1889.

Application filed April 25 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN DAVID BRAUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at De troit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle-Pads, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in harness-saddles; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the saddle-pads, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figures 1 and 2 are vertical central sections of harness-saddles of the ordinary construction, and to which myimproved pads are applied. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the pads as constructed in Fig.1, and Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of one of the pads as shown in Fig. 2.

The harness-saddle shown in Fig. l is of that known construction in which there is a saddle-tree A, made integrally in one piece, cast or of sheet metal, the one shown in Fig. 2 being made in another well-known manner that is, with the saddle-tree A, consisting of a central piece and side pieces, secured thereto.

My improved pads apply equally to either kind, as well as to the various modifications thereof in present use, and their construction is as follows: From suitable spring metal, preferably galvanized iron, brass, or other metal not liable to rust, I construct the curved leaf-springs B, the curvature of which corresponds to the desired face of the finished pad. These springs I secure to the necessary numher to form the width of the pad upon a suitable foundation plate, or preferably upon the under side of the wings of the saddle-tree itself. To this end I form on the foundationplate or saddle-tree the loops C, which may be cast therewith or formed thereon in any suitable manner. Into these loops the ends of the springs are engaged and held in position by bending one end of the springs over the cross-bars of the loops. Thus the springs are free to yield under pressure, but are held in position by the loops to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement. The pads may 1889. Seria1No.308,5 l8. (Nomodeh) then be finished in any desired manner, covering them directly with leather or other desirable fabric, or by first putting a slight thickness of suitable padding material over the springs.

In supplying the trade with my improved metallic pads Iconfine my invention to the different forms, styles, and modes of construct ing pads in present use; and thisIean readily do, securing, if necessary, the springs to a foundation-plate, which may be secured to the under side of the saddle-tree.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide a harness-saddle with a spring-plate under each Wing of the saddle-tree, and do not seek to cover such construction. I deem it important that a plurality of springs B be employed under each wing, each self-adjust ing, independent of the other, whereby the pad may readily accommodate itself to the horse, and will be adapted for different horses. I also deem it important that the springs be connected to the foundation-plate without return-bends, this arrangement forming a more comfortable pad, and the springs are not so liable to break as where they are formed with return-bends.

It is immaterial at which end the springs are secured to the loops, provided they are secured all alike. It is an advantage, however, to secure the springs detachably, so that they may be reversed in position if found more suitable to the shape of the back of the animal.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with a saddle, of a plurality of springs arranged side by side, each spring having one of its ends pointing toward the center of the saddle and fixedly connected with said saddle, and the other loosely engaged with a loop connected with the saddle so as to be free to expand toward the end of said saddle, substantially as described.

2. In a pad for harness-saddles, the combination, with a foundation-plate, of a plurality of curved metal leaf-springs B, secured thereto with their ends extending in opposite directions, free to expand each independent of the other in the longitudinal direction of the pad by means of loops 0, into which the springs are engaged loosely at one end and rigidlysecured at the otherend,substantially pand at one end, each independent of the as described. other, substantially as described.

3. As an improved article of nmnufacture, Intestimony whereof I affix my signature, in a skeleton harness-saddle pad, consisting of presence of two Witnesses, this 2d day of 5 a metallic saddle-tree section provided at its March, 1889.

under side with two rows of loops 0 at the ends of the pad, and of a plurality of metallic DAVID BRAUN' leaf-springs curved in the form of the pad Witnesses: and secured to these loops, with their ends J. PAUL MAYER, 10 extending in opposite directions, free to ex- GEO. A. GREGG. 

